Improvement in propellers for vessels



E. C. HUjBBAR D.

Propellers for Vessels.

. Patented Feb. 4,1873.

` To Il 'whom it may concern:

urrED STATES ERWIN C. HUBBARD, OF GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN.

IMPRovl-:MENT IN PRoeELLERs Fou vEssELs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,555, dated February4, 1873.

Be it known that 1, lanwIN C. HUBBARD, of Green Bay, county otBrown,\\"isconsin, have invented a new and Improved Wheel t'orlropelling Vessels, of which the ibllon-'ing is a specin'eation:

This invention relates to that class of improvements whiclrhave fortheir object the propulsion ot' vessels when driven b vsteani or othermotive power; and consists in a new i'orm ot' shat'ts and blades, aswill hereinafter be more fully described.

Figure l is a rear-end view of the wheel. Fig. 2 is alongitudinalsection. Fig. 3 is a 4sectional detached view ot' the hub.

rlhe devices forming the wheel are the shaft F, the conical hub E, theblades A, and arms B. The shat't F is inclosed in a sleeve, G. Theconical hub E has curved serrated seats j', to which are attached thecurved and taperinp'blades A, tbrming a conical-shaped wheel withapertures or openings,as shown at a.. rlhe sleeve may be made hollow,and, t'or the purpose ot' expelling the water more rapidly from thecenter ot the wheel, is made tapering or larger at the end next the hub.B are stays or supports t'or the outer ends ot the blades, and arefastened at one end to the sleeve, and the other end passes through theblades, ith thread and nuts atreither side, for the purpose ot'supporting the blades, and also to adjust the size ot' the openingsbetween them.

1n the drawing,t`our blades are shown. The number of blades is notmaterial. There may be more or less, in proportion to the size ot' thewheel. '.lhe devices for regulating the spa-ce between the blades isimportant, inasmuch as the size ot' the openings gives the wheel morelorless lead. Theserra'ted seats upon the inner end ot the hub, and uponwhich the small ends of the blades are fastened, are for the purpose otlforming the openings at the small end ot' the wheel. The wheel may beplaced at the stern, at the sides, or under the vessel` and thepropellingpower may be applied to it in the ordinary way.

The advantage ot this peculiar construction is that its force iscentripetal, and it vields a vastlyincreased amount of speed to thepower applied.

1n its practical operation the wheel receives the water through theapertures or openings between the blades. As the wheel revolves there isa constant pressure upon the whole ot' the inner surt'ace ot' the.blaues, and the expulsion ot' the water forms apower ot resistance inproportion to the velocity ot' the revolutions. lt diti'ers lt'rom thescrew-propellerin the amount ot' surface acted upon by the water and inthe amount ot' water displaced. This wheel is not designed to disturb ordisplace the water. On the contrary, the water is drawn into or claspedby the wheel, and when it is ejected therefrom it i'orms a powerfulrcsisting torce. By its peculiar construction and form it not onlypresents a small amount of resisting surface, but it has all theadvantages ot' strength and durability, and it may be applied with equalsuccess \"vhen it is desirable to use submerged wheels as sideplropellers.

Witnesses:

'120. BREou'r, M. H. DooLrrcrLE.

